13. Now therefore give up the men, the worthless fellows in Gibeah, that we may put them to death and purge evil from Israel.” But the Benjaminites would not listen to the voice of their brothers, the people of Israel.
14. Then the people of Benjamin came together out of the cities to Gibeah to go out to battle against the people of Israel.
15. And the people of Benjamin mustered out of their cities on that day 26,000 men who drew the sword, besides the inhabitants of Gibeah, who mustered 700 chosen men.
16. Among all these were 700 chosen men who were left-handed; every one could sling a stone at a hair and not miss.
17. And the men of Israel, apart from Benjamin, mustered 400,000 men who drew the sword; all these were men of war.
18. The people of Israel arose and went up to Bethel and inquired of God, “Who shall go up first for us to fight against the people of Benjamin?” And the Lord said, “Judah shall go up first.”
19. Then the people of Israel rose in the morning and encamped against Gibeah.
20. And the men of Israel went out to fight against Benjamin, and the men of Israel drew up the battle line against them at Gibeah.
21. The people of Benjamin came out of Gibeah and destroyed on that day 22,000 men of the Israelites.
22. But the people, the men of Israel, took courage, and again formed the battle line in the same place where they had formed it on the first day.
23. And the people of Israel went up and wept before the Lord until the evening. And they inquired of the Lord, “Shall we again draw near to fight against our brothers, the people of Benjamin?” And the Lord said, “Go up against them.”
24. So the people of Israel came near against the people of Benjamin the second day.